The Prince’s Ninth Birthday

Time Stamp: Vikram Era: 10 Ashwin 1636 (October 1578), Prayagraj Palace

The sunshine in the morning gave the house a warm glow, and it was very busy. Today was a big day because it was Prince Siddharth's ninth birthday. There were big parties and important rituals to mark the occasion. Nobody could take their eyes off of the young prince. As he got ready for the day's events, he was excited and interested.

Siddharth stood in his room in front of a big mirror and looked at himself in it, loving the traditional clothes he was wearing. His young face, which was set by curly black hair, was naturally bright. His eyes were a deep brown color and were smart and interested. For his age, he had a small build, but his stance was straight and he seemed sure of himself.

Sonakshi walked into the room with a warm smile on her face as he turned to leave. "Today you look like a real prince, Siddharth," she told him as she fixed the fine stitching on his tunic.

"Thank you, Sonakshi," Siddharth said, his voice exciting and tense at the same time. "I hope I can live up to everyone's expectations."

She reassured him, "You already do, my prince," and put a soft hand on his shoulder. "Today is just a celebration of all that you are and all that you will become."

Queen Nayana walked into the room with royal grace and cut them off in the middle of their talk. She was so proud of her son that she said, "My dear son, you look wonderful." "Today, you will meet many important people and learn much about our kingdom and beyond."

As he took a deep breath, Siddharth nodded. "I am ready, Mother."

The day started with the usual ceremonies in the palace private temple. Siddharth was led through the ceremonies by his maids and servants, including Sonakshi. At each step, they blessed and prayed for his future. There was the smell of incense in the air and the sound of holy prayers.

One of the older Ladies remarked, "You are turning into a fine young man." as she put a tilak on his forehead. "May you always be blessed with wisdom and strength."

Siddharth was taken to the royal audience room after the ceremonies, where he would meet with different cabinet members. The first meeting was with Minister Bhaskar, who was in charge of the Agriculture Ministry.

Mr. Bhaskar was a big man with a friendly face. He bowed and smiled at Siddharth to meet him. No changes were made to the original sentence as it does not require editing. "It is an honor to meet you."

Siddharth smiled back and said, "Thank you, Minister Bhaskar." "Can you tell me about your ministry and any issues we face?"

"Of course," Bhaskar said at first. "Our ministry makes sure that the land is good for farming and that everyone has enough food." We keep an eye on irrigation projects, take care of supplies, and help farmers. One problem right now is making sure that all areas have enough water, especially since monsoon trends are changing.

Siddharth paid close attention and asked questions about how to water fields and what kinds of crops are grown in different areas. Bhaskar admired how interested and eager the young prince was to learn about the complicated world of farming.

The next person Siddharth met was Minister Lakshmi, who was in charge of the Ministry of Culture and Education. Minister Lakshmi was a beautiful woman who seemed calm.

She spoke in a sweet voice, "Janamdin ki shubhkamnayein, Yuvraj" (Happy Birthday, Your Highness). "It is a pleasure to speak with you."

"Thank you, Minister Lakshmi," Siddharth called back. "What does your ministry focus on, and how can we improve our education system?"

"Our ministry ensures that education is accessible to all and that our cultural heritage is preserved and promoted," she said. "We're in charge of libraries, schools, and cultural events." One thing we're focused on is improving our manuscript copying centers and giving more people the chance to go to school in rural areas.

Siddharth asked what kinds of schools there were and what they taught. He was especially interested in how the boarding schools taught kids how to do jobs and how they were trying to keep old texts safe.

The royal family had planned a big banquet and dinner for after the talks were over. The dining hall of the castle was decorated with expensive things, and the air was filled with the smell of delicious food. Nobles, officials, and important people from other countries came together to honor the young prince.

During the dinner, Siddharth talked with young people of the same social class and laughed and told stories. The best part of the night was meeting his older step-sister Vaniika, who had just come back from a trade trip.

Siddharth's birthday was today, and Vaniika wished him a happy birthday by giving him a big hug. "You look dashing today."

"Thank you, Didi," Siddharth answered. "It's great to see you. How have you been?, Its been so long since you came"

She laughed and said, "As always, busy." "But I have brought you a special gift—a map of all the places our family's trading fleet has visited."

As Siddharth unfolded the map and looked at the faraway places it showed, his eyes lit up with joy. "This is so cool!"

"Thank you, Didi," Siddharth said, his eyes shining with joy as he unfolded the map and gazed in awe at the faraway places it showed. 

Vaniika gave a smile and said, "This is just the beginning." Tonight I have a better present for you.

It made Siddharth interested. "What is it?"

Vaniika's smile got bigger. "We'll see what happens." She says, "It's a surprise." 

She walks away with a smile, 

The palace courtyard was turned into a beautiful place for Prince Siddharth to meet with representatives from nearby kingdoms after the big banquet and dinner. He had never met foreign leaders before, so this was both an exciting and interesting experience for him.

As the first group of Pandyas came up, Siddharth stood next to his parents, King Madhava and Queen Nayana. They showed off a figure that was very well made.

Their leader bowed and said, "Janamdin ki shubhkamnayein, Rajkumar Siddharth" (Happy Birthday, Prince Siddharth). "This statue symbolizes the strength and wisdom we wish for you."

"Thank you," Siddharth said as he looked at the statue's fine features. "What is life like in the Pandya Kingdom?"

The boss smiled because he was glad the prince was interested. "Our kingdom has a lot of history and culture. It is in the southernmost part of the subcontinent." We have beautiful temples for our gods, a busy trade network with people from faraway places, and a strong focus on writing and art. The Pandyas are known for being good at sea and for Madurai, our main city, which is a beautiful coastal city.

Siddharth gave a thoughtful nod. The talk of faraway places and cultures piqued his interest.

After that, Siddharth met with people from the Lohara Dynasty in Kashmir. They gave him a shawl that was very carefully made.

"Janmadin ki shubhkamnayein, Yuvraj" (Happy Birthday, Your Highness), the Kashmiri representative said. "This shawl is a symbol of our craftsmanship and the warmth of our people."

"Thank you," Siddharth said as he touched the soft cloth. "Can you tell me more about your land?"

"Kashmir is the land of mountains and valleys," the representative said. "Our area is known for its stunning landscapes, lovely gardens, and high-quality craftsmanship." The main city of our country, Srinagara, is known for its lakes and water homes. We are also known for our beautiful needlework and deep cultural history.

Next were people from the Chacha Dynasty who lived in the Indus Valley. They gave Siddharth an urn that was very nicely designed.

Their boss told them, "Happy Birthday, Prince Siddharth!" This was written in Sanskrit. "This urn is a token of our respect and good wishes."

"Thank you," Siddharth said, enjoying the beautiful patterns. "What is life like in there?"

"Our region, centered around the ancient cities of a bygone era, is known for its rich history and fertile lands," the leader said. "We have a strong farming base, with huge wheat and barley fields." People in our country are good at trade and skills, and our history of business goes back to divine times.

The group from the Katoch Dynasty in Himachal Pradesh brought a figure made of carved wood.

The messenger said, "Janmadin ki shubhkamnayein, Yuvraj" (Happy Birthday, Your Highness). "This statue represents our dedication to craftsmanship and nature."

"Thank you," Siddharth said as he looked at the detailed carving. "Can you tell me more about your land?"

"Our kingdom, known for its lush forests and rolling hills, is a place of natural beauty," the envoy said. "The beautiful scenery, apple orchards, and lively cultural festivals in our area make it famous." Our center is the city of Nagarkot, and we take great pride in fine arts and crafts there.

Then Siddharth met with people from the Solanki Dynasty. They showed off a very well-made sword.

Their boss told them, "Happy Birthday, Prince Siddharth!" This was written in Sanskrit. "This sword symbolizes strength and honor."

I said, "Thank you," and Siddharth carefully held the sword. "What is life like in your kingdom?"

"The Solanki Dynasty, based in the region of present-day Gujarat, values martial prowess and chivalry," the ruler said. "Anahilapataka, our capital, is a center for business and education." We are proud of our history of fighters and politicians, and our temples and stepwells are works of art.

Next were people from the Paramara Kingdom, who showed off a nicely bound manuscript.

The messenger said, "Janmadin ki shubhkamnayein, Yuvraj" (Happy Birthday, Your Highness). "This manuscript contains the wisdom of our scholars."

"Thank you," Siddharth said as he turned the leaves. "Can you tell me more about your land?"

"The Paramara Kingdom, centered around the city of Dhara, is a center of learning and culture," the envoy said. "People in our area are known for supporting the arts, literature, and philosophy." Our libraries are full of old books and manuscripts because we have a long history of study.

A beautiful piece of jewelry was shown by representatives from the Haihaiyavanshi Kingdom.

Their boss told them, "Happy Birthday, Prince Siddharth!" This was written in Sanskrit. "This piece of jewelry represents our artisans' skill and creativity."

Siddharth responded, "Thank you," praising the work. "What is life like in your kingdom?"

"The Haihaiyavanshi Kingdom, located in the central part of the subcontinent, is known for its artistic achievements and cultural festivals," the ruler said. "Mahishat, our capital, is a beautiful and grand city." We love all kinds of talent and beauty, and our artists are known for the beautiful things they make.

Finally, the Bhoi Dynasty group showed off a beautifully made musical instrument.

The messenger said, "Janmadin ki shubhkamnayein, Yuvraj" (Happy Birthday, Your Highness). "This instrument is a symbol of our musical heritage."

Siddharth said, "Thank you," and he gently plunked the strings. "Can you tell me more about your land?"

"The Bhoi Dynasty, is rich in musical and artistic traditions," the envoy said. "Our capital, Cuttack, is a place where many cultural events happen." Music is a big part of our culture and daily life. We sing and dance at all of our events.

As Siddharth talked to the foreign delegates, his mind was full of new ideas and knowledge. He was very interested in the different cultures and ways of life that existed outside of his kingdom.

And as the night came to a close, Siddharth felt very thankful and happy. He had grown and his future looked bright thanks to the events of the day. There were his family, teachers, and new friends around him. He could feel the weight of his duties and the warmth of their support.

The bright stars outside his window made him think of how big the world was that was waiting for him. Siddharth went to sleep with a smile on his face, thinking of the exciting things that were yet to come.